As the NBA Draft approaches, excitement fills the air around Dallas. After landing the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery despite having only a 1.8% chance to do so, the Dallas Mavericks now await the arrival of one of the most promising first picks in recent memory.
Having impressed in every arena he has set foot in, all signs point toward Cooper Flagg being a franchise-caliber talent. While Flagg can score the ball in multiple ways, that barely scratches the surface of his versatility as a basketball player. His activity level off the ball, as well as his intensity on the defensive end, only add to his talents and make Flagg a selection that is hard to lose on.
But as anticipation builds around how the projected No. 1 pick’s game will translate to the league, the Duke University product’s picks on which players he likes to watch the most could give a glimpse inside his preparation process.
Cooper Flagg Models His Game After Elite Footwork Masters
While Flagg admitted he does not model his game after any particular player, there is one thing his favorite players to watch all have in common: elite footwork.
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“I like Kawhi’s game, the two-way ability that he has and what he’s able to do. Tatum I like. KD I like to watch,” the 18-year-old forward told Yahoo Sports. “Those are some of the guys I like to watch and you know take little small things and footwork things and stuff like that.”
The inclusion of Jayson Tatum here is no surprise, especially considering the fact that Flagg is a supporter of the Boston Celtics and openly called the Celtic his “favorite NBA player” prior to the NBA Draft Combine. Although Flagg has not modeled his game after Tatum or the other two stars, similarities are certainly noticeable.
Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, and Tatum all display tremendous scoring ability. While teams look to take the burden off their primary scorers, these stars look to dominate the game on both ends of the floor, a quality that Flagg embodies as well. Although the level of intensity required to sustain such performances is high, Flagg’s endless motor makes him more than capable of following in the footsteps of the elite forwards of the league.
LeBron James Endorses Future Mavericks Star
While the exclusion of LeBron James from the list might have raised a couple of eyebrows, Flagg’s desire to compete against the King might signal he is coming straight for the throne. “I want to play against him, just because, I mean, it’s LeBron. Like, not a lot of people out here get a chance to play with LeBron. So I think it would just be really cool to play against him,” Flagg said last month.
As the comment indicates Flagg’s admiration for James, the King returned the praise to the young star on the latest episode of Mind The Game Podcast. “He’s a winner… He just makes winning plays… I just thought he played the game the right way…” LeBron said, having played against him at Team USA training camp and watching him on the EYBL circuit.
With the King’s stamp of approval now handed to Flagg, the prospect will have all the confidence in the world heading into the league. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game during his lone season at Duke University, leading the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a Final Four appearance. The Maine native became just the fourth freshman in NCAA history to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, and Zion Williamson.
The Cooper Flagg era is set to begin in Dallas soon, and with the confidence he continues to exude, it appears this will be a player like no other. Dallas general manager Nico Harrison will have the opportunity to pair Flagg with established stars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, creating a formidable core that could compete immediately in the Western Conference.
